Stream Simulation for Aquatic Organism Passage at Road–Stream Crossings

Historically, road–stream crossing structures were designed on the basis of the hydraulic capacity of the structure for a specific design flood without consideration of aquatic species or the swimming and jumping abilities of a single target fish species and life stage during its migration, and ignored the movement needs of other adult fish, juvenile fish, and aquatic organisms occupying the stream. Hydraulic designs typically constrict the channel, create flow hydraulics and channel conditions that are markedly dissimilar from those in the natural channel, and impede the movement of most other nontarget fish and aquatic organisms along the stream corridor. The stream simulation approach for designing road–stream crossing structures was recently adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service as a pragmatic and sustainable long-term solution to maintain passage for all aquatic organisms at all life stages at road–stream crossings while meeting vehicle transportation objectives. This study shows how the stream simulation design process integrates fluvial geomorphology concepts with engineering principles to design a natural and dynamic channel through the road–stream crossing structure. The premise of stream simulation is that the creation of channel dimensions and characteristics similar to those in the adjacent natural channel will enable fish and other aquatic organisms to experience no greater difficulty moving through the structure than if there were no crossing. Stream simulation channels are designed to adjust laterally and vertically to a wide range of floods and sediment or wood inputs without compromising the movement needs of fish and other aquatic organisms or the hydraulic capacity of the structure.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2203-05
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Stream+Simulation+for+Aquatic+Organism+Passage+at+Road%e2%ac%1cStream+Crossings&author=D.+Cenderelli&author=K.+Clarkin&author=R.+Gubernick&author=M.+Weinhold&publication_year=2011
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/LowVolume_Roads_2011_Volume_1_165778.aspx
• Authors:
  • Cenderelli, Daniel A
  • Clarkin, Kim
  • Gubernick, Robert A
  • Weinhold, Mark
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 36-45
• Monograph Title: Low-Volume Roads 2011, Volume 1
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2203
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aquatic life; Channels (Waterways); Design; Environmental engineering; Fishes; Floods; Geomorphology; Low volume roads; Sediments; Simulation; Streams
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fish passage; Hydraulic capacity; Stream crossings
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I15: Environment; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01345649
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309160841
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 27 2011 1:42PM